Shoe sole and heel



June 5, 1951 H JQHNSQN 2,555,590

SHOE SOLE AND HEEL Filed Nov. 19, 1948 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, 1951 H. H. JOHNSON 2,555,590

SHOE SOLE AND HEEL.

Filed Nov. 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/ l /7 if 11 Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- SHOE SOLE AND HEEL Harry H. Johnson, Brookline, Mass.

Application November 19, 1948, Serial No. 61,096

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to shoe soles and heels, preferably of the rubber and wedge type, and has for its object to provide a device of this kind wherein the heel or sole may be individually renewed, and it forms an improvement on the device shown in my application Serial No. 27,511, filed May 1-7, 1948, now abandoned.

A further object is to provide a shoe sole and heel wherein the sole is coextensive with the welt of the shoe, and the heel provided with a wedge extension, integral therewith, extending to the forward side of the arch and attached to the rear portion of the heel, thereby giving a wedge effect with all of the advantage of the arch support. Also to recess the sides of the wedge to render the wedge substantially invisible from either side of the shoe, to eliminate the objectionable feature of wedge shoes to a point where the advantages of the wedge shoe can be obtained without the unsightly appearance, so wedge shoes will be worn by men.

A further object is to form the renewable heel and wedge extension from a resilient material, so the wedge will flex during a walking operation, and at the same time retain its arch supporting properties.

A further object is to form the sole and wedge integral and terminating to the rear of the arch, and to provide a renewable heel abutting the rear end of the wedge, and the heel connected to the welt, as distinguished from the heel portion of the sole.

A further object is to provide the renewable heel with a chamber, in which chamber air is trapped, thereby forming a pneumatic cushion for absorbing the shock during a walking operation. Also to form the bottom wall of the heel relatively thin in relation to the sides of the heel so that, when the heel contacts an object on the street, such as a pebble, the pebble will be embedded or impressed into the lines of the heel, thereby preventing twisting of the ankle, or shock. The thick sides of the heel forming the supporting cushion.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of the heel and sole wherein the sole is a complete one,

2 and the wedge carrying heel applied to the he and arch portion thereof.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the other side of the sole and heel.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heel and wedge showing the chamber thereof.

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of a inodified form of sole and heel wherein the rear end of the wedge, and rear end of the arch of the sole abut the inner side of the heel.

Figure 5 is a collective detail perspective view of the heel shown in Figure 4, and the adjacent end of the combined wedge and sole.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a pneumatic heel, particularly adapted for use on ladies shoes.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the cushion heel inverted.

Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of a conventional shoe showing the sole formed coextensive with the welt of the shoe with the rear end of the wedge terminating at the rear of the arch, and the heel formed as a separate unit.

Figure 9 is a collective detail perspective view of the device shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the pneumatic heel.

Figure 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the heel taken on line I l--H of Figure 10 and showing the action of the heel bottom when the user steps on a pebble or other object while walking. 1

Referring to the drawings, and particularl Figures 1 to 3 inclusive; in this form a rubber sole l is provided, which is coextensive with the welt 2. The rear portion of the sole is secured in any suitable manner to the heel portion of the welt, for instance by conventional nails or an adhesive. In this form, the heel 3, with its integral wedge 4, is secured to the under side of the sole in any suitable manner. The wedge 4 extends forwardly and terminates adjacent the forward side of the arch. It will be noted that the wedge 4 has its opposite sides recessed as at 5, thereby forming side flanges 6, not only allowing a stitching operation, at 1, around the forward portion of the sole, but also at opposite sides of the wedge. Therecessed sides 5 have the additional function of placing the sides of the wedge inwardly in relation to opposite sides of the sole, so the wedge is practically obscured from view when the shoe is in use. By this particular construction the objectionable heavy appearance of wedge shoes is obviated, and at the same time the feminine appearance is obviated, thereby bringing a wedge type into the field of mens shoes,

mens and womens shoes, and applicant does not limit himself in this respect.

By forming the heel and wedge as a separable unit, they can be renewed in case of Wear without the necessity of applying an entirely new sole.

The heel 3 is preferably chambered as shown at 8 for increasing the resiliency of the same and obtaining the advantages of a pneumatic heel.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the wedge 4 is formed integral with the sole portion Ia, which sole portion terminates adjacent the rear side of the arch, hence it will be when renewing or replacing a heel 3a, the forward side 9 of the heel will abut the rear side of the wedge 4, therefore it will be seen, in case of renewal considerable material will be saved, anditwill not benecessary to strip the entire sole from the welt; The outer faces of the Wedge 4 and heel 3 are substantially in the same plane, along with the sole. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a cushion heel is provided, particularly adapted for use on womens shoes. The heel it is chambered as shown at H to form a pneumatic heel, however, in Figure 6, themarginal flange I2 is downwardly disposed to flex and take up the shock of initial engagement of the rear end of the heel with the ground, during a walking operation, 7 Figure 7 shows the heel withthe flange upwardly disposed, which is desireable in some cases. The device shown in Figures 6 and 7 may be secured in any suitable manner, cemented or nailed.

Referring to FiguresB to 11 the heel 3a is formed as a separate unittobe applied to sole. In thisform the wedge 4 is formed integral with a coextensive sole I, hencethe heel 3a is secured in any suitable manner at 13 to the rear heel portion la of the sole I, Integral wedge 4 terminates in a flat surface I4 which abuts the forward side 15 of the heel. Itwill beobyious, in this form, when renewing the heel 3a,.it Will not be necessary to disturb the wedge t or the rear heel por-, tion la'ofthe sole. HeelSamay be applied by a nailing or cementing operation, well known in the ar.t-.. M l. 7

The heels 3a and 3 are of the pneumatic type; as disclosedin Figures 10 andll, and formedfrom yieldable materiahfor, instance rubber. Air is sealed or trapped in the chamber l 6 and acts as a cushion. The marginal sides of the heel are relatively thick as shown at I], however the bottom of the heel is much thinner as shown at 18, hence it will be seen that when the wearer steps on a 4 pebble, or other objects, l9, the object will flex the bottom upwardly until the object is within the lines of the bottom of the heel, therefore it will be seen that danger of the wearer being thrown or the twisting of an ankle is obviated.

From the above it will be seen that a combined wedge type sole and heel is provided wherein it will be possible to renew the heel portion, as well as the wedge portion without discarding the sole, thereby making it possible to easily and quickly repair the shoe with the minimum amount of material and labor. It will also be seen that repairs can be made at local cobbler shops with limited q pmen The invention having been set forth what is claimed as'new and useful is: The combination with a wedge type shoe sole comprising a sole section adapted to be attached to a welt, of a plastic one piece combined heel and. wedge registering with the heel and shank of the sole section, said wedge being formed as an integ'ral part of the heel, said wedge being narrower than the forward end of the heel and curving forwardly and outwardly and terminating at opposite sides of the sole in feather edges, fiat flanges at opopsite sides of the wedge and integral with the heel, said flanges, having their outer edges conforming to the curvature of opposite sides of the sole, the upper and lower surfaces of said wedge being fiat and converging to a feather edge at the forward edge of the wedge, said flat flanges forming means whereby continuous stitching through the flanges and sole may be made from one side of the forward end of the heel to the other side of said forward end of the V Name Date 546,183 Ow'en & Hilton Sept. 10, 1395 1,640,857 Solomon Aug, 30, 1927 1,725,547 Spear Aug. 20, 1929 1,728,536 Gartner Sept. 17, 1929 1,819,565 McBride Aug. 18, 1931 1,896,586 Johnstone .Fe b 7, 1933 2,363,151 Schibi NOV. 21, 1944 

